Ramon taking Harlandale to stellar heights

By David Hinojosa :
October 14, 2013

Harlandale quarter back Brandon Ramon, right, fakes a pitch to his left on Floresville's Bradley Bunn before scoring a second quarter touchdown during their game at Harlandale Memorial Stadium on Oct. 4.

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Harlandale's Eddie Pedroza (second from right) picks up yardage during the first half of their game at Harlandale Memorial Stadium on Oct. 4, 2013. Harlandale beat the Tigers 28-17. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Floresville's Kyle Pippert (right) tackles Harlandale's John Aguirre during the first half of their game at Harlandale Memorial Stadium on Oct. 4, 2013. Harlandale beat the Tigers 28-17. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Harlandale running back Nicholas Martinez (second from left) breaks free from Floresville's Dadrian Contreras during the second half of their game at Harlandale Memorial Stadium on Oct. 4, 2013. Harlandale beat the Tigers 28-17. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Harlandale quarterback Brandon Ramon prepares to throw a pass during the first quarter of their game with Floresville at Harlandale Memorial Stadium on Oct. 4, 2013. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Harlandale's Juan Moncivaiz (center) is congratulated by Zachary Borrego (right) and Edmundo Maldonado after his fourth quarter touchdown reception during their game with at Floresville at Harlandale Memorial Stadium on Oct. 4, 2013. Harlandale beat the Tigers 28-17. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Harlandale running back Nicholas Martinez (left) tries to run past Floresville's Bradley Bunn during the first half of their game at Harlandale Memorial Stadium on Oct. 4, 2013. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Whenever the NFL was on TV in Jesse Ramon's South Side home, his 2-year-old son Brandon would be running around the living room, mimicking everything he saw.

He would copy passes, catches and even touchdown celebrations. But one day, Brandon suddenly stopped. Jesse found him sitting in the corner of the room, behind the sofa.

Fast forward 15 years, and Brandon Ramon isn't pretending anymore. The senior is in his second year as Harlandale's starting quarterback. It's precisely the place where Ramon always wanted to be.

“I would sit in the stands and watch Jonathan Silva,” Ramon said of Harlandale's quarterback from 2007 -09. “I wanted to be like him. I thought that could be me someday. I always wanted to be under the spotlight.”

That's definitely the case these days.

Ramon is a District 29-4A leader with 1,308 yards on 69-of-139 passing with 14 touchdowns and two interceptions. And after a scorching 5-0 start, fans were already starting to talk about a historic 10-0 season. Only one Harlandale team (1966) has ever posted a 10-0 regular season.

The talk was too soon, as it turned out Friday, when the Indians were defeated by Kennedy, 31-21. But the loss doesn't negate Ramon's overall stellar performance this year

Wisely, Harlandale coach Isaac Martinez always brushed aside talk of a possible unbeaten regular season. He sees the big picture. Ramon has shown remarkable improvement since last year, the coach notes, when he threw for 2,350 yards, 24 TDs and 11 interceptions. Martinez says the touchdown-to-interception ratio is a testament to the improvement.

Harlandale has run a spread offense in Martinez's 20 seasons as coach, and Ramon is given more freedom to go through his reads and improvise.

“He's the only quarterback we've ever had who's had this much leeway,” Martinez said.

It's a responsibility Ramon doesn't take lightly.

“They trust what I see,” said Ramon (6-foot, 180 pounds). “That makes me want to do well and not do anything to lose that trust.”

As he guides Harlandale on track for a historic season, Ramon is living out his dream. And somewhere in a South Side living room, there may be a kid running around throwing passes, wanting to be the next Brandon Ramon.